Wow, another summer appears to have moseyed on by, and I never even got the tent out once! But we did just get home from the annual family reunion, where we were once again shocked and amazed by the growth of the nieces. What are they putting in the water??!!

Seems like only yesterday they were so little, and now the youngest hit the double digits…..yep the mighty 10! Such a great age. And the next birthday for the oldest is 12, in 2 weeks, although we celebrated early since we were all together. They are both still young enough to be impressed and not cynical, happy with books and engaging gifts, not demanding or expecting ridiculous presents…plus they are just nice young ladies.

I give big props to their parents. They are teaching them the reality of life–kindness and consideration are much more valuable than things, and far more positively received by the rest of us! Just wish we’d had more time to spend together, which is always how it feels when we get home. That, and maybe getting all the laundry done while we were there and before we left would be cool too….!

The lodge was as fabulous as always–how can you not have a great time in a fishing lodge on the Historical Register that is over 101 years old?

5 minutes after we drove up, I walked out to the end of the dock and sat there with my dog, listening to the ducks quietly gossiping, while the fish jumped and splashed. The stars at night were simply sublime—I truly enjoyed gazing at a deep velvet sky dripping with tiny diamonds of light, and the quiet humbling that comes with finding my place within that vastness….

…until the ginormous clouds of hungry evil bastard mosquitoes found me and sent me rocketing into the lodge double time.

That was the lake’s way of telling me it was time for a cold beer and family catch up.  Hope your Labor Day was amazing too!

That’s all the time there was on the clock at Mt Rose when I pulled up.

3:59.25 pm. Oh yeah, baby, timing is everything.

That 35 seconds meant I could take one more ride up the lift! I could take on the mountain with a final view of Washoe Valley and Carson City to the the south, Reno and the edges of the desert to the north. I could soar over the quiet slopes, drift between the shadows, quiet my mind and relax.

And the best part of the very last run on a Sunday? Everyone has already climbed back into their cars and prepared for the long drive home if they’re visiting from out of town.

The out of control, no looking around, just straight bombing kamikaze kids are gone. The people paying the crazy high day lift rates are so tired, trying to squeeze out every x-dollars-per-ski-run in y number of hours  they can, getting exhausted in the process, are gone.

The idots who stop in front of the lift, clogging the entrance, not a clue in the world in spite of the lift operators who constantly ask them to “Keep moving”, and “Don’t block the entrance”, waiting for another clueless person to show up and just stand there with them, are gone.

Only the lifties and ski patrollers are left, and the few happy locals who managed to snag a last chair in the final seconds of the day…..are out there whooping it up, letting go of the rest of their leg strength, maybe racing a friend for beers down to the bottom of the Slide side.

Or maybe they are simply, quieting their own minds, slowly taking their time, looking around, meditating on the beauty and grace of another day skiing, a lucky few in a vast world of many who cannot enjoy this moment.

I did both. A little whooping is good for the lungs and the soul, and the quiet reflection fed my inner calm perfectly, so that the drive home was of joy and calm and happy.

I hope you had a real good day too.

Well, we made through another year…….in spite of the threats by the Mayan calendar and all the end of the world scenarios. Of course, Americans are still desperately hanging on to the edge of the “fiscal cliff” brought to you by all the wonderful folks in our government……you know, the ones that are supposed to be looking out for US, not just themselves??? Ahh, but I digress, and do not want to go all negative on the first crisp new day of 2013!

Ok, so let’s recap………… just today, not the whole last year! My sweetheart surprised me with a flute of champagne and even made breakfast! Then, after a quiet, laid back morning, I got to go to Mount Rose and ski! The weather was absolutely bluebird–wide open blue skies, bitin’ ass cold, loads of snow, and not too many dumbasses on the hill!

I rarely, if ever, ski during the holiday break, but since I bought a full season ski pass to Mt Rose this year and the snowfall and accumulation has been freaking amazing so far during December (6 to 10 FEET already–YES!!!)………..well, I just had to go. And I am so glad I did, even if I did have to kamikaze ski around all the ankle biters and 5 day season skiers (you know, the people who only ski during the winter/holiday break, but have all the newest equipment and clothes? Yeah, those dumbasses).

But the gods were smiling, as well as most of the people there. It sure is hard not to smile when there is all that glorious snow, the season has only just begun, and the holidays are almost over! Plus we had dinner at the brother in laws house with a thick juicy ham, rich and decadent scalloped potatoes, and a yummy bright fresh waldorf salad (I ain’t saying nuthin’ about that nasty green bean casserole with the disgusting mushroom crap all smeared over beautiful &  innocent green beans–there are people who actually enjoy such stuff, but I ain’t a one a them, and I ain’t apologizin’ neither…..ugggggh.)

So it was one of the best New Years days I’ve had in a long time–and I haven’t even said anything about the NEW STUDIO!!!!!!!!!!  I’ll have to write several posts about this dream come true, along with posting some photos–I can hardly wait!

Smiles, Sheri